Student Life

Our students study, play and explore in a nurturing, informal environment that is closely linked to nature.

Kindergartners learn about the life cycle of plants they grow in the Lower School garden. Second graders trek to the shoreline bordering our Lower Field to understand the Bay’s ecosystem. Fourth graders hike Ring Mountain for their study of native plants. Sixth graders investigate and draw maps of the campus watershed.

Students sing songs and share stories at weekly assemblies, help with daily lunch service and clean up (Lunch Bunch), perform in concerts and plays, serve on student councils, play on athletic teams and spend time with their grade-level buddies.

The sense of community and togetherness that these activities foster is an essential part of each student’s MCDS experience.

In The Classroom

In Lower School classrooms, project-based learning is balanced with a formal introduction to the reading, writing and mathematics skills that are essential tools for effective learners. Students learn phonics, grammar, punctuation, spelling, computation and problem solving skills each day.

In Upper School, students take English, a world language, history, science, mathematics, art, music, drama and physical education. Students in grades 6 – 8 begin every day with in small grade-level groups (homeroom advisories) supervised by faculty advisors.

After School

MCDS offers a variety of after-school enrichment programs for students in grades K-8 -- from after school enrichment courses and music instruction to supervised study hall and indoor and outdoor games and activities. (Learn more about our after school programs.)

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